Democratic Progressive Party Taipei mayoral candidate Puma Shen challenged Mayor Chiang Wan-an to one debate a week on September 15, and Chiang would not say whether he would take it up. With 73 days to go before the nine-in-one local elections, Shen wants ten cross-examination debates with Chiang before the vote, the Liberty Times reported, so that residents can better understand the candidates.
What is Shen proposing? Shen, who had returned from Japan only the day before and went canvassing at Shilin's Huarong Market early on September 15, renewed the challenge, PTS reported. He said cross-examination debates would give residents "ample opportunity during the campaign to properly decide whom to vote for," and that one a week "feels like a fairly good approach."
How did Chiang respond? "There is still a great deal of city work to be busy with, so I think all of that is carrying on," Chiang said in remarks carried by PTS, "but don't forget that four years ago, the only debate among the six special municipalities was in Taipei, and I took part." Chiang has been using his record in office to win voters' approval, and is reported to be setting up a campaign office in late September.
What is the dispute over city departments? Chiang's reported campaign plan has three tiers: city departments supplying material to respond to municipal issues, the campaign office responding to campaign issues in real time once it opens, and elected representatives joining in to unite pan-blue forces, the Liberty Times reported. Shen said Chiang's campaign had long been under way: when Shen put forward policy proposals, departments stepped forward to respond, treating city hall as a campaign office and fighting the election with tax money. He also questioned, in remarks carried by PTS, whether the departments' frequent responses to his platform might breach administrative neutrality.
Where were the candidates campaigning? Chiang inspected the Shida shopping district, where merchants petitioned him and lamented its decline, and said he would help residents and the district prosper together, the Liberty Times reported. That evening Shen canvassed the Gongguan night market, where many people arrived early to claim a spot and packed both sides of Tingzhou Road. Waving orange hand flags, they shouted "We came on our own!", rebutting the pan-blue camp's claim that the "Yang current" was made up of part-time workers.
